Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-11-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular correspondent)

4
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. 22. 1887.
As the time for the assembling of Con-
gress draws nearer, the contest for the posi-
| tion of Doorkeeper of the House wakes
warmer-that appearing TO be the only sub
ordinate position over which there is any
competition, though, if certain combina-
tions that are now being formed can be sue
cessfully carried out, the old state will be
shattered and there will be sweeping
change. There are six candidates in the
pa>-i-~~r~-, s-~-,- -~lt rootIvrI5 Of +io
country. Heretofore, it has been the Gus
tom for the Democratic Congressional eau
Gus to equally divide the four best Offices
giving to the North the sergeant-at-arms and
postmaster and to the South the clerk and
doorkeeper-an arrangement that will like
| ly be continued The Democratic members
from New York have called n caucus to
meet in this city the latter part of the week
TO determine what course they will pursue
in regard to the doorkeepership.
Again the familiar faces of members of
Congress can be seen at the hotels and on
fashionable and aristocratic northwest quar-
ter of the city. The Washingtonians draw
the line of social distinction right through
the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue, the
popular thoroughfare that leads from the
White House to the Capitol. If ones hab-
itation is north of that line, he or she is pre-
sumed to be of respectable social status, but
if they dwell south of it, they are regarded
with distrust until something transpires to
change that opinion. You see, dear reader,
/ know how it is myself, for coming here
stranger, l innocently located on the wrong
side of Pennsylvania avenue. But have
since crossed over and am now supposed to
be as good rs my neighbors.
In addition TO several contests for seats i'll
the House, there will be two or three in the
Senate, aud one of the latter will be of gen
eral interest, as it involves a constitution
al question. In West Virginia, the regular
session of the legislature, having failed to e.
lect United States Senator, the Governor
appointed one but al called session of
the legislature soon afterward the Govern
or's appointment was ignored as illegal, and
Senator elected. So two claimants,-both
Democrats-will appear for the same Sena-
torial seat. One OF the other cases that / re-
fer to is that of Senator-elect Turple, of In
diana. Still, it is doubtful if Ex-senator
Harrison contests the seat, as his alleged
claim appears to rest upon anything but n
firm foundation. Then, too, the Senate is
much more impartial and conservative than
the House in the settling of contests.
The British Fisheries Commission having
reached the Capital, it is probable that
negotiations will be in progress before the
end of this week. Upon the arrival of Mr..
Chamberlain, the chief commissioner, he
was beseiged at his hotel by forty reporters
of the leading newspapers of the country {;
but only the subjects on which the adroit
diplomatist conld be satisfactorily inter
viewed were liquors, cigars, and kindred
topics. The boys vivaciously pumped away
over an hour, but all to no purpose further
than that they were considerably refreshed
internally.
Thanks to the honest reform methods of
democratic administration, the annual
deficits, for defraying the expenses of the
Postofice establishment, which have for
number of years, amounted to eight to fifteen
million dollars annually, have been steadily
reduced until the last deficiency was about
one million dollars, and it is confidently es-
timated that before the close of the current
year the Postofice Department will be run
ming on paying basis.